Virtual web store with product images

ABSTRACT

A three dimensional web store having product images is created. Three dimensional product images are rendered from manufacturing information instead of the products themselves. The location of all products, advertisements, aisles, signs, and displays is determined for a real world store. The web store is then created using three dimensional internet or virtual world viewing and maneuvering capabilities, to appear identical to the real world store.

The application is a continuation-in-part to an application by the sameinventor and assigned to the same assignee, also titled, Virtual WebStore with Product Images.” The parent application is Ser. No.11/944744, filed Nov. 26, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to virtual web stores and particularly to a webstore with three dimensional images of store aisles and products. Moreparticularly, a web customer may maneuver through the store aislesviewing three dimensional images of products created from manufacturinginformation for the products or their containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Online shopping has been an increasing trend for those that do not havethe time, desire or ability to access a real world store. For thisreason, retailers have focused their attention on making increasinglyinteractive online shopping experiences for their customers.

With emerging technologies, such as three-dimensional internet (3Di) andvirtual worlds, becoming popular, retailers are turning to thesetechnologies to sell their products. Creating these three-dimensional(3D) web stores can become extremely time-consuming as well as costly.There are two areas that take up most of the time in designing such astore. These are designing the layout of the 3D web store and designingthe product images that will be placed inside of it.

When creating a web store, retailers often approach a service providingcompany with expertise in the area. This company then designs the layoutof the web store, deciding where to put the shelves, signs, displays,etc. This creative design of the web store can take time and effort thatneither party can afford. The company may also design the product imagesto be used within the web store. These product images increasingly needto look identical to the actual product as it will sit in the web storeand where it will sit. Currently, companies are turning to commercialartists to create the product images. They draw the packaging and addany additional artwork or words that are featured on the actual product.This can take a very long time as this process needs to be done for eachproduct that will be featured in the web store. For this reason, it isnecessary to find a more efficient means for creating a 3D web store and3D images of products that will be featured within it.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,376 describes a system that uses encoded digitalsignals to represent images in the online store as they would be seen bya shopper in a real world store.

World Intellectual Property Organization Publication (WO) 2005/041099describes a system that shows each product in an online store as adigital image. This invention lines up the digital images of eachproduct in the sequence that they occur in the store.

However, there exists a need in the art to overcome the limitations ofcreating a virtual store and product images as described hereinabove. Itis believed that such a capability would constitute a significantadvancement in the art.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to enhancethe virtual store creation arts by providing a system, program product,and services business for a store creation with enhanced capabilities.

It is another object to provide such a system, program product, andservices business which may be practiced in a relatively inexpensivemanner and is particularly adapted for repetitive use.

It is a further object to provide an enhanced system, program product,and services business for rendering product and packaging images for usein a virtual store.

These and other objects are attained in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention wherein there is provided a system for creatinga web store, comprising means for determining a location of eachproduct, aisle, advertisement, sign and display within a real worldstore, means for collecting information about each advertisement, signand display within the real world store, means for receivingmanufacturing information for fabricating each product, means forrendering a respective three dimensional product image for each productfrom the manufacturing information, and means for creating a web storeusing three dimensional internet or virtual world maneuverability, withimages of each aisle, advertisement, sign, and display positioned at thedetermined location, and with each respective product image positionedat a respective determined

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention there is provideda system for creating three dimensional images of a product and productpackaging, comprising means for receiving manufacturing information forfabricating the product and the product packaging, and means forrendering the three dimensional images of the product and the productpackaging from the manufacturing information without having the productor product packaging available.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a flowchart describing the steps of creating a web store;

FIG. 2 illustrates product packaging to be rendered for a web store;

FIG. 3 is a layout of a real world store that can be illustrated in aweb store;

FIG. 4 depicts an illustration of a web store; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing how product manufacturing information isused for both product fabrication and product image creation.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

This present invention provides a system for creating athree-dimensional (3D) web store and the product images within it. Inthe drawings, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the samecomponents.

FIG. 1 contains a flowchart with the steps for creating web store 40.Step 101 requires determining the location of product 20 within realworld store 30. The location of any advertisement, sign 36 and display32 is located as well. This can be accomplished with the use of radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag technology, a video camera, or anyother position determining technology known in the art. The location ofthe products 20, advertisements, signs 36 and displays 32 can either bedetermined to be in a specific location within real world store 30 or ageneral area, such as a department of the store. Information about eachproduct 20 in real world store 30 is collected in step 102. Anyinformation about the advertisements, signs 36 and displays 32 iscollected as well. The information about each product 20 may include thequantity of the product 20 remaining, the sizes which are available instock and any colors or any other product feature that is available instock in the real world store 30 or by order from the productmanufacturer. The information about the advertisements, signs 36 anddisplays 32 may include any artwork, words or symbols that are visibleon each of these. Step 103 requires storing information used formanufacturing the real world products 20 and product packaging indatabase 53. The manufacturing information includes dimensions, graphicsand any other information which may be needed to make the product 20 andits packaging. This information is then used by a program for creatingthree-dimensional graphical representations. The program must be giveninstructions on how to use each piece of information. The program thencreates a three-dimensional graphical representation of the product 20and its packaging using the manufacturing information. In step 104 webstore 40 is created with a three-dimensional graphical representation ofreal world store 30 using the location and information collected abouteach product 20, advertisement, sign 36 and display 32. Thisrepresentation can either be a representation of the store itselfwithout the product images or it can include the product images 42 whichwere previously created. Web store 40 can then be accessed within a 3Dinternet (3Di), virtual world or both. Web store 40 is user interactivein that the user can move through web store 40 as one would through realworld store 30. There may also be a third person view, where the userhas an avatar 43 which moves through the store, or a first person view,where the user is looking around the store through his/her own eyes. Theuser can view the information that was previously collected either bylooking at the 3D graphical representation or by clicking on the object.For example, clicking on an advertisement featured within web store 40could take the user to the website of the advertiser. Those of ordinaryskill in the art will recognize that the steps in FIG. 1 can becompleted on a single system or on multiple systems which communicatewith one another.

The system may be a general purpose computing system such as a personalcomputer, laptop, PDA, server, workstation, or combinations thereof. Thesystem will include technology devices required to locate products inthe real world store. If RFID technology is used, for example RFID tagson products, then at least one RFID reader will be included in thesystem. Similarly, at least one video camera will be included in thesystem if video camera technology is used to locate products.

The system also includes database software of any type known in the art.Rendering software for rendering three dimensional product images isincluded in the system.

FIG. 2 shows real world product 20 and product packaging which hasmanufacturing information that may be stored in database 53. The detailsof surfaces 21 may be some of the manufacturing information stored indatabase 53. This includes any graphics, colors or words that may bevisible. The dimensions of the real world product and product packagingincluding height 22, width 23, and length 24 may also be among themanufacturing information stored in database 53. This is not limiting,but rather any information that may be needed to create the real worldproduct 20 and product packaging may be stored in database 53.

FIG. 3 depicts real world store 30. The locations of aisles 31, displays32, cashier counter 33, clothes rack 34 and sign 36 may all be captured.This can either be done by an image capturing device, such as videocamera 35, or RFID tag technology, or any other location capturingtechnology. Video camera 35 can take continuous video or take video orstill images at a predetermined interval thus allowing web store 40 tobe continuously updated or updated at a predetermined interval to bemodeled after the real world store. A plurality of real world stores mayeach be used to create a plurality of respective virtual stores. Avirtual store user may then select which store to visit.

When determining inventory for the web store, real world store 30 may beused as a warehouse for shipping real product to customers of the webstore; thus if a product 20 is out of stock in real world store 30, itwill be listed as out of stock in web store 40. Alternatively, aseparate warehouse could be used for shipping real product to customersof web store 40. In this situation, if one of the products 20 is out ofstock in real world store 30, it does not necessarily have to be out ofstock in web store 40. If a different warehouse is used for web store40, there is also the option of offering additional products 20 as wellas what is offered in real world store 30. In this situation a separatearea is designated in web store 40 for products 20 which are availablein web store 40 only.

FIG. 4 illustrates web store 40 as it would be seen on display device45. Display device 45 can be a computer display, mobile phone display orany other type of display device. Web store aisle 41 corresponds to realworld aisle 31. The location of aisle 41 in web store 40 and productimages 42 on aisle 41 would be identical to the location of aisle 31 inreal world store 30 and the real world products 20 on aisle 31.Similarly, signs 44, advertisements and displays in web store 40 wouldalso appear identical in location to advertisements, signs 36, anddisplays 32 in real world store 30. Product images 42 in web store 40can be picked up by the user for example, through suitable keyboard ormouse commands, or by the user's avatar 43, and rotated to see all sidesof product image 42 and its packaging. The user may appear to carryproduct image 42 or may have a virtual shopping cart where one can dragand drop product image 42.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing that product information 51 that is beingsent to manufacturer 52 to fabricate the product 20 in real world store30, is also to be sent to database 53 to create product image 42 in webstore 40. For example, product image 42 may be created before realproduct 20 is fabricated by manufacturer 52 or before real product 20 isshipped to real store 30. In addition, as noted above it is in generalmuch less expensive to create product image 42 from the productmanufacturing information 51 than to create product images from the realproduct 20 or its packaging.

As noted above, a services providing company may be engaged to renderthe product and product packaging images from the manufacturing data foreach product to be sold in the virtual store. The company then deliversthe product and product packaging images to the client.

A services providing company may also be engaged to create the web storein accordance with the present invention, and deliver web store softwareto the client.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intendedto be included within the scope of the following claims.

1. A system of creating a web store, comprising: means for determining alocation of each product, aisle, advertisement, sign and display withina real world store; means for collecting information about each saidadvertisement, sign and display within said real world store; means forreceiving manufacturing information for fabricating each said product;means for rendering a respective three dimensional product image foreach said product from said manufacturing information; and means forcreating a web store using three dimensional internet or virtual worldmaneuverability, with images of each said aisle, said advertisement,said sign, and said display positioned at said determined location, andwith each said respective product image positioned at a respectivedetermined location within said real store.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein said location is determined using radio frequency identificationtag technology or video camera technology or combinations thereof. 3.The system of claim 1, wherein said location is continuously determined,said information is continuously collected, said manufacturinginformation is continuously received, said product image is continuouslyrendered, and said web store is continuously recreated to have images ofeach said aisle, advertisement, sign display and product positioned at arespective determined location within said real world store.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising means for creating an additionalarea in said web store having images of products not available in saidreal world store.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said maneuverabilityincludes capability for moving through said web store using a thirdperson view.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein said third person view isan avatar.
 7. A system for creating three dimensional images of aproduct and product packaging, comprising: means for receivingmanufacturing information for fabricating said product and said productpackaging; and means for rendering said three dimensional images of saidproduct and said product packaging from said manufacturing informationwithout having said product or product packaging available.
 8. Thesystem of claim 7, further comprising means for storing saidmanufacturing information in a database.
 9. The system of claim 8,further comprising a rendering software program for rendering saidimages by operating on said information in said database.
 10. A computerprogram product for instructing a processor to create a web store, saidcomputer program product comprising: a computer readable medium; firstprogram instruction means for determining a location of each product,aisle, advertisement, sign and display within a real world store; secondprogram instruction means for collecting information about each saidadvertisement, sign and display within said real world store; thirdprogram instruction means for receiving manufacturing information forfabricating each said product; fourth program instruction means forrendering a respective three dimensional product image for each saidproduct from said manufacturing information; and fifth programinstruction means for creating a web store using three dimensionalinternet or virtual world maneuverability, with images of each saidaisle, said advertisement, said sign, and said display positioned atsaid determined location, and with each said respective product imagepositioned at a respective determined location within said real store;and wherein all said program instruction mans are recorded on saidmedium.
 11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein saidlocation is determined using radio frequency identification tagtechnology or video camera technology or combinations thereof.
 12. Thecomputer program product of claim 10, wherein said location iscontinuously determined, said information is continuously collected,said manufacturing information is continuously received, said productimage is continuously rendered, and said web store is continuouslyrecreated to have images of ach said aisle, advertisement, sign displayand product positioned at a respective determined location within saidreal world store.
 13. The computer program product of claim 10, furthercomprising program instruction means for creating an additional area insaid web store having images of products not available in said realworld store.
 14. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein saidmaneuverability includes capability for moving through said web storeusing a third person view.
 15. The computer program product of claim 14,wherein said third person view is an avatar.
 16. A computer programproduct for instructing a processor to create three dimensional imagesof a product and product packaging, said computer program productcomprising: a computer readable medium, first program instruction meansfor receiving manufacturing information for fabricating said product andsaid product packaging, and second program instruction means forrendering said three dimensional images of said product and said productpackaging from said manufacturing information without having saidproduct or product packaging available; and wherein both said programinstruction means are recorded on said medium.
 17. The computer programproduct of claim 16, further comprising program instruction meansrecorded on said medium for storing said manufacturing information in adatabase.
 18. The computer program product of claim 17, furthercomprising a rendering software program recorded on said medium, forrendering said images by operating on said information in said database.19. A method of deploying a web store to a client, comprising the stepsof: determining a location of each product, aisle, advertisement, signand display within a real world store of a client company; collectinginformation about each said advertisement, sign and display within saidreal world store; receiving manufacturing information for fabricatingeach said product; rendering a respective three dimensional productimage for each said product from said manufacturing information;creating a web store using three dimensional internet or virtual worldmaneuverability, with images of each said aisle, said advertisement,said sign, and said display positioned at said determined location, andwith each said respective product image positioned at a respectivedetermined location within said real store; and deploying said web storeto said client company.
 20. A method of deploying three dimensionalimages of a product and product packaging, to a client company,comprising the steps of: receiving manufacturing information forfabricating said product and said product packaging; rendering saidthree dimensional images of said product and said product packaging fromsaid manufacturing information without having said product or productpackaging available; and deploying said images to said client company.21. The method of claim 20, further comprising storing saidmanufacturing information in a database.
 22. The method of claim 21,further comprising rendering said images using a rendering softwareprogram operating on said information in said database.